Vocalion Records
1916-1940
Vocalion Records was founded by The Aeolian Piano Company of New York City in 1916, when some of the basic patents for records and phonographs began to expire. Like Brunswick, Aeolian had great craftsmanship skills and a reputation it could use for these new product lines. Combined with using the prestigious Aeolian Hall (a concert hall built by this same company in 1912) as its recording studio, it began issuing records the following year under the Aeolian-Vocalion name. "Vocalion" came from the Vocalion Organ Company, one of Aeolian's divisions. Ten and twelve-inch vertical-cut discs were issued using the common black shellac, some single-sided, until 1919 when the lateral-cut patent expired and became open to all.

Lateral-cut discs immediately replaced vertical but were made with reddish-brown shellac. The company advertised these as superior to the black variety but in reality they were slightly less durable. Ones in nice condition can sound great however and surpass the Big Three in many cases. "Aeolian" was soon dropped from the name as well. Vocalion attracted the usual phonograph artists that recorded for everybody like Billy Murray, Henry Burr and Ernest Hare. Yet, it also signed new big names like Fletcher Henderson, Ben Bernie and Gene Austin. It also scored some coups in the Classical field, especially with the Metropolitan Opera House Orchestra. Race, Country and Ethnic recordings were also well represented with up-and-coming talent.

The dawning of 1925 saw Vocalion owned by Brunswick and its output sharply declined afterwards. The label rarely pressed popular material anymore. Some Race, Country and Ethnic discs continued to be issued though. Both labels were bought by Warner Bros. in 1930 and leased to the American Record Corporation (ARC) in 1931. It used Brunswick as their premium label while Vocalion became a budget one until 1940, when Vocalion was changed to OKeh. However, OKeh continued to use Vocalion's catalog numbering system.
Encoded Speed: 192 Kbps

Vertical Recordings
12-Inch Records

Cavalleria Rusticana

Giulio Crimi

Vocalion 74000

Matrix# ? (illegible)

ca. 1918

Note: played at 75 RPM

10-Inch Records

Can You Tame Wild Women	Every Day Will be Sunday When the Town Goes Dry
Billy Murray	Billy Murray
Vocalion A12103	Vocalion B12103
Matrix# (illegible)	Matrix# (illegible)
1919	1919
Note: played at 79 RPM

Lateral Recordings
10-Inch Records

Iko Miko	Ver A Taten Hot
Aaron Lebedeff	Aaron Lebedeff
Vocalion A13015	Vocalion B13015
Matrix# ?	Matrix# ?
April 1924	ca. April 1924
Note: played at 78 RPM

Mammy's Good-Night Lullaby	Swanee
Peerless Quartet	Peerless Quartet
Vocalion A14087	Vocalion B14087
Matrix# 5920	Matrix# 5924
May 1920	May 1920
Note: played at 81 RPM	Note: played at 82 RPM

Japanese Sandman	Sweetie O'Mine
Crescent Trio	Sam Ash
Vocalion A14102	Vocalion B14102
Matrix# 6162	Matrix# 6135
released November 1920	released November 1920
New York, New York	New York, New York
Note: Scratches towards end.

Dolly	Pitter Patter
All Star Trio	Harry A. Yerkes' Dance Orchestra
Vocalion A14136	Vocalion B14136
Matrix# 6434	Matrix# 6466
ca. October 1920	ca. November 1920
New York, New York	New York, New York

When You Look In The Eyes Of A Mule	Strut Miss Lizzie
Ernest Hare	Ernest Hare
Vocalion A14144	Vocalion B14144
Matrix# 6617	Matrix# 6615
ca. December 1920	ca. December 1920
	Note: Worn.

I Call You Sunshine	In The Devil's Garden
The Merry Melody Men	The Merry Melody Men
Vocalion A14178	Vocalion B14178
Matrix# 7177X (?)	Matrix# 7171X (?)
March 1921	March 1921
New York, New York	New York, New York
Note: Worn.	Note: Worn.

One Kiss	Canadian Capers
Max Fischer's Dance Orchestra	Ben Selvin's Dance Orchestra
Vocalion A14217	Vocalion B14217
Matrix# 7670	Matrix# 7809
released September 1921	released September 1921
New York, New York	New York, New York
	Note: Poorly recorded, volume blasting and variation.

Down At The Old Swimming Hole	Nightmare Blues
Ernest Hare and Billy Jones	Harmonizer's Quartet
Vocalion A14223	Vocalion B14223
Matrix# 7724	Matrix# 7721
July 1921	July 1921
Note: Worn.

The Sheik of Araby	Georgia Rose
The California Ramblers	The California Ramblers
Vocalion A14275	Vocalion B14275
Matrix# 8263	Matrix# 8266
November 17, 1921	November 17, 1921
New York, New York	New York, New York

Granny (My mammy's mammy)	While Miami Dreams
The Bar Harbor Society Orchestra	The Bar Harbor Society Orchestra
Vocalion A14289	Vocalion B14289
Matrix# 8400	Matrix# 8395
December 1921	December 1921
New York, New York	New York, New York

Homesick	There's a Reason
Emil Coleman & His Montmartre Orchestra	Emil Coleman & His Montmartre Orchestra
Vocalion A14445	Vocalion B14445
Matrix# 9729	Matrix# 9726
August 1922	August 1922
New York, New York	New York, New York

La Tristeza De Pierrot	Pensando En Ti
Max Dolin's Orchestra	Max Dolin's Orchestra
Vocalion A14466	Vocalion B14466
Matrix# 10225	Matrix# 10222
November 1922	November 1922
New York, New York	New York, New York
Note: Swish to end.	Note: Swish at start.

Under The Double Eagle March	2nd Regiment Connecticut March
Lieut. Francis W. Sutherland and his 7th Regiment Band	Lieut. Francis W. Sutherland and his 7th Regiment Band
Vocalion A14481	Vocalion B14481
Matrix# 10186	Matrix# 10263
November 1922	November 1922

My Buddy	Flower of Araby
Ben Bernie and His Orchestra	Ben Bernie and His Orchestra
Vocalion A14494	Vocalion B14494
Matrix# 10554	Matrix# 10552
released March 1923	released March 1923
New York, New York	New York, New York

Way Down Yonder in New Orleans	You've Got to See Mamma Ev'ry Night (or you can't see mamma at all)
Gene Fosdick's Hoosiers	Gene Fosdick's Hoosiers
Vocalion A14496	Vocalion B14496
Matrix# 10636	Matrix# 10525
released March 1923	released March 1923
New York, New York	New York, New York

Peggy Dear	Apple Sauce
Gene Fosdick's Hoosiers	Gene Fosdick's Hoosiers
Vocalion A14503	Vocalion B14503
Matrix# 10635	Matrix# 10641
released April 1923	released April 1923
New York, New York	New York, New York

Loose Feet	The Great White Way Blues
The Original Memphis Five	The Original Memphis Five
Vocalion A14527	Vocalion B14527
Matrix# 10746	Matrix# 10750
released May 1923	released May 1923
New York, New York	New York, New York

Am I To Blame	Think of Me
The Boardwalk Orchestra (Ben Selvin)	The Boardwalk Orchestra (Ben Selvin)
Vocalion A14531	Vocalion B14531
Matrix# 10897	Matrix# ?
February 1923	February 1923
New York, New York	New York, New York
Note: played at 78 RPM

Crying For You	Swinging Down The Lane
Ben Bernie and His Orchestra	Ben Bernie and His Orchestra
Vocalion A14537	Vocalion B14537
Matrix# 10926	Matrix# 10923
February 1923	February 1923
New York, New York	New York, New York

Wonder (If She's Lonely Too)	Mad ('Cause You Treat Me This Way)
Ben Bernie and His Orchestra	Ben Bernie and His Orchestra
Vocalion A14599	Vocalion B14599
Matrix# 11540	Matrix# 11537
released August 1923	released August 1923
New York, New York	New York, New York

Love Tales	My Sweetie Went Away
Ben Bernie and His Orchestra	Ben Bernie and His Orchestra
Vocalion A14622	Vocalion B14622
Matrix# 11627	Matrix# 11626
June 1923	June 1923
New York, New York	New York, New York

El Capitan	Tenth Regiment March
Lieut. Francis W. Sutherland and his 7th Regiment Band	Lieut. Francis W. Sutherland and his 7th Regiment Band
Vocalion A14666	Vocalion B14666
Matrix# 11418	Matrix# 11419
ca. 1923	ca. 1923

Blue Ridge Blues	Susie Ann
George Reneau	George Reneau
Vocalion A14815	Vocalion B14815
Matrix# 13114	Matrix# 13112
April 28, 1924	April 28, 1924
Note: played at 76 RPM

Barrel House Blues	My Right Man
Rosa Henderson (piano accompaniment by Fletcher Henderson)	Rosa Henderson (piano accompaniment by Fletcher Henderson)
Vocalion A14831	Vocalion B14831
Matrix# 13252	Matrix# 13254
May 24, 1924	May 24, 1924
New York, New York	New York, New York
Note: Worn. Scuff from 1:51-2:21.
Note: Two hairline cracks 1/2-inch inward, not audible after filtering.

Somebody Loves Me	Put Away A Little Ray Of Golden Sunshine For A Rainy Day
Ben Bernie and His Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra	Ben Bernie and His Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra
Vocalion A14854	Vocalion B14854
Matrix# 13405 or 13406	Matrix# 13403
ca. July 22, 1924 released October 1924	ca. July 22, 1924 released October 1924
New York, New York	New York, New York

Lady, Be Good	Tell Her In The Springtime
Ben Bernie and His Orchestra	Ben Bernie and His Orchestra
Vocalion A14955	Vocalion B14955
Matrix# 14068	Matrix# 14065
December 18, 1924	December 18, 1924
New York, New York	New York, New York
Note: played at 79 RPM

Oh Katharina!	Titina
Ben Bernie and His Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra	Ben Bernie and His Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra
Vocalion A14979	Vocalion B14979
Matrix# 338W or 340W	Matrix# 357W
February 6, 1925 released May 1925	February 13, 1925 released May 1925
New York, New York	New York, New York
Note: played at 78 RPM

Isn't She the Sweetest Thing	Are You Sorry
Ben Bernie and His Orchestra	Ben Bernie and His Orchestra
Vocalion A15036	Vocalion B15036
Matrix# 796	Matrix# 792, 793 or 794
May 13, 1925	May 13, 1925
New York, New York	New York, New York
	Note: Needle dig for the first few seconds.

12-Inch Records

Silent Night, Holy Night

Marguerite D'Alvarez

Vocalion 52020

Matrix# 7619, Take 2

ca. June 1921

New York, New York

Aida Selection	La Boheme Selection
Metropolitan Opera House Orchestra	Metropolitan Opera House Orchestra
Vocalion A35046	Vocalion B35046
Matrix# ?	Matrix# ?
released November 1924	released November 1924
Note: played at 76 RPM

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